13-14Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham's blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God's life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it.

15-18Friends, let me give you an example from everyday affairs of the free life I am talking about. Once a person's will has been ratified, no one else can annul it or add to it. Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his descendant. You will observe that Scripture, in the careful language of a legal document, does not say "to descendants," referring to everybody in general, but "to your descendant" (the noun, note, is singular), referring to Christ. This is the way I interpret this: A will, earlier ratified by God, is not annulled by an addendum attached 430 years later, thereby negating the promise of the will. No, this addendum, with its instructions and regulations, has nothing to do with the promised inheritance in the will.

What is the curse of the law?

1. The curse of the law is found in the first 5 Books of the Bible; usually referred to as the Pentateuch.

2. We find that the curse of the law, or, punishment for breaking God’s law is 3 fold:

a. Poverty, Sickness, & Spiritual Death.

3. Do we have a promise in the Bible that tells us we can be blessed materially and otherwise in this life? YES!

1 Timothy 4:5

The Message (MSG)

1 Timothy 4

Teach with Your Life

1-5The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've lost their capacity for truth. They will tell you not to get married. They'll tell you not to eat this or that food—perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by believers who know better! Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. God's Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.

2 Peter 1:2-3

The Message (MSG)

2 Peter 1

1-2I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God's straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master.

Don't Put It Off

3-4Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

Deuteronomy 28:15-17

The Message (MSG)

15-19 Here's what will happen if you don't obediently listen to the Voice of God, your God, and diligently keep all the commandments and guidelines that I'm commanding you today. All these curses will come down hard on you:

God's curse in the city,
God's curse in the country;
God's curse on your basket and bread bowl;
God's curse on your children,
the crops of your land,
the young of your livestock,
the calves of your herds,
the lambs of your flocks.
God's curse in your coming in,
God's curse in your going out.

Deuteronomy 28:38-40

The Message (MSG)

38-42 You'll plant sacks and sacks of seed in the field but get almost nothing— the grasshoppers will devour it. You'll plant and hoe and prune vineyards but won't drink or put up any wine—the worms will devour them. You'll have groves of olive trees everywhere, but you'll have no oil to rub on your face or hands—the olives will have fallen off. You'll have sons and daughters but they won't be yours for long—they'll go off to captivity. Locusts will take over all your trees and crops.

4. Since the Word says we have all sinned and come short of the glory of Gd, then the curse should also fall upon all mankind. (Romans 4:22-23)

Galatians 3:13

King James Version (KJV)

13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

5. Nowhere in the Bible has God asked us to take a vow of poverty.

2 Corinthians 8:9

King James Version (KJV)

9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

a. Jesus came materially poor for us.

Matthew 8:20

King James Version (KJV)

20And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Matthew 8:20

The Message (MSG)

20Jesus was curt: "Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know."

Philippians 4:19

King James Version (KJV)

19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

The Message (MSG)

18-20And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.

6. The Apostle Paul is talking about financial and material things.

Matthew 6:33

King James Version (KJV)

33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

a. What things is Jesus talking about? WHATEVER YOU NEED!

b. “…It shall be ADDED unto you!”

Luke 6:38

King James Version (KJV)

38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

a. Say out loud: I have been redeemed from the CURSE OF POVERTY!

b. Jesus said “MEN SHALL GIVE UNTO YOUR BOSOM.”

Malachi 3:10

King James Version (KJV)

10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

a. “Oh well, Pastor, that was just for the Jews…”

Galatians 3:14

King James Version (KJV)

14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

7. God wants to make us abundantly provided for.

8. Money is never to become Man’s master, but, he is to use it for God to bless others. Living to give and knowing God is faithful to His Word.

a. The Bible does not say, ‘Money is the root of all evil…” Read it for yourself.

1 Timothy 6:10

King James Version (KJV)

10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.